Railroad-tie



L. HAAS.

RAILROAD TIE.

(No Model.)

,346. Patented July 2, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI HAAS, OF OHESTEB, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILROAD-TIE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,346, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed October 22, 1888. Serial No. 288,838. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI I'IAAS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chester, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Ties, of which the following is'a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention pertains to certain new and useful improvements in railroad ties or sleepers; and it comprises the details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View showing a strengthening plate or frame in position. Fig. 5 is a bottom perspective view of said plate or frame.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the metallic tie, of approximately U shape that is, it has parallel sides and a straight or slightly-curved bottom. From the side walls of this tie are cut opposite short flanges or lips to a, whereon the rail may rest.

B B are two bracing or strengthening arms out from opposite sides of the tie, and are extended across the same, and their reduced extended ends I) b are passed through slits 1), formed in the sides of the tie, and held by downwardly-bent short lips 19 also formed from the sides of the tie. By means of these arms the sides are firmly and securely held with relation to each other.

In the bottom of the tie is formed a series of slots or openings b having beveled or inclined ends. The object of these slots or openings is that when a train passes over the rails laid on the ties (especially when on sandy ground or gravel) said ties will be depressed to a greater or less extent, and by reason thereof the said sand or gravel will pass through said slots onto the bottom of the tie, thus firmly embedding the same.

D is an adjustable plate for firmly holdmg or clasping a rail in position on the tie,

and preventing the cutting of the latter by the lateral movement of the rail. This plate is provided with oppositely-bent lips d d, which hug, respectively, the side of the tie and an arm (Z struck up or formed on the side of the tie, and bent back thereupon, as shown. The inner side of this plate D has a chamfered-like slot or recess (P, the lower portion of whichis designed to extend beneath the flange or lip a, while the inclined portion hugs the flange of a rail. A spring E is formed in this plate by making an ap proximately U-shaped bend in the metal, and the tendency of this spring is to firmly and securely hold the clamping end of plate D against a rail, so as to prevent lateral movement thereof, and the cutting of the tie, which is generally made of softer metal than the plate D.

F is a strengthening plate or frame, which may be employed, if desired, to more firmly hold the sides of the tie. This plate or frame is shown in position in Fig. 4 and in detail in Fig. 5.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art 10 which it appertains, and it will be seen that by means thereof a tie is securely held in place.

I claim as my invention.

1. As an improvement in metallic railroadties, the tie having bracing or strengthening arms formed with one side and removably connected to the opposite side, substantially as described.

2. As an improvement in metallic railroadties, the tie having the arms struck from opposite sides thereof, and the lips for securing the ends of said arms, substantially as described.

3. The tie having the plates D secured thereto for clamping a rail, substantially as described.

4. As an improvement in railroad-ties, the plate D, having a groove or recess in its end, and the spring for holding the same against a rail, substantially as described.

5. The tie having short arms struck therefrom, in combination with the adjustable plate having lips for securing the same in place, and provided with a U-shaped spring or bend and recessed ends, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI HAAS. Witnesses:

CHAS. O. LARKIN, MILTON WAUGH. 

